VESTAVIA HILLS, Alabama -- With less than three minutes left in the game, the Vestavia Hill Rebels scored the winning touchdown to go on and defeat Hoover 20-13 in a big Class 7A, Region 3 game at Thompson Reynolds Stadium. With the game tied at 10 with 2:32 left in the game, Rebels running back Thomas Minor scored from 15-yards out to put Vestavia Hills up seven points and the Rebels defense held on in the end.

Vestavia Hills (6-2, 4-2) used a big 4th quarter drive to get the win and secure a spot in the playoffs. In the winning drive, quarterback Brett Jones hit Remington Patterson with a huge 28-yard play to setup the winning touchdown. "This win is top 5 all-time," said Rebels Head coach Buddy Anderson. "This is a special win for us tonight. I was proud of our kids, they played so hard. We battled every play. We talked in believing and believing in one another all week and just lay it on the line every play."

The Rebels made the big defensive play in the first quarter that sort of set the tone for the Vestavia Hills defense. Midway through the first quarter, Levi Wiggins picked off a Bucs pass in Hoover territory and returned it to the Bucs 13 yard-line. A few plays later, Jones sneaks it in from one-yard out and Vestavia Hills took a 7-0 lead with 5:17 left in the first quarter.

With :39 seconds left in the first quarter, Hoover (6-2, 4-2) came right back to tie the game when Chris Vacarella found a wide open Joseph Timpa for a 3-yard touchdown play for the Bucs. Hoover gets the touchdown when on a 4th of four at the Vestavia Hills 15, the Bucs draw a offside penalty to give the Bucs a first down and keep the drive alive.

After the Bucs touchdown, Hoover goes for an onside kick and gets it when Temarcus Bryant recovers the ball and give the Bucs offense the ball at the Vestavia Hills 32-yard line. A few plays later, Barret Pickering kicks a 33-yard field goal to give Hoover a 10-7 lead with 10:09 left in the second quarter. With 4:50 left in the half, Vestavia Hills tied the score at 10 when Curry Howard kicked a 20-yard field goal. A Josh Denney reception of 18-yards along with a Minor 12-yard run setup the Rebels field goal.

In the second half, with 5:44 left in the third quarter, Vestavia Hills hit a 20-yard field goal by Howard that put the Rebels ahead 13-10. A Jones to Joseph Travis 20-yard pass play setup the Rebels field goal. "We really opened some things up throwing the football," added Anderson. "Our quarterback throws it well and our receivers have done a great job of catching the football. Having a year of experience has really helped."

With 1:34 left in the third quarter, Vestavia Hills fumbled a punt return and set the Bucs offense up at the Rebels 33-yard line. A few plays later, Hoover goes into the end zone but a holding call nullifies the touchdown and Hoover has to settle for a Pickering 32-yard field goal and Hoover ties the game at 13-13. Penalties have been an issue all season for Hoover and they played a big part in this game as the Bucs had 16 penalties for 113 yards that have been drive killers for the Hoover offense. "Hats off to Vestavia, they made the plays they needed to and we didn't," said Bucs Head coach Josh Niblett. "We had to many penalties. We have to keep working on it. We are struggling with it right now, but as a head coach I have to get it fixed and figure this thing out. That is the issue right now, but we can't hang our heads and we need to get back to work."

With 4:40 left in the game, Hoover had a chance to take the lead, but with a 4th and one play at the Vestavia Hills 36-yard line was turned away by the Rebels defense that turned into the winning drive for Vestavia Hills. "Play calling was good and we knew we couldn't get beat deep," said Rebels defensive back Jonathan Hess. "Matching up with them athletically was a challenge, but we were able to do it. We know that we can play with anybody in the state if we play our game. We just have to come out and execute our game plan."

For the game, Vestavia Hills had 50 plays for 259 total yards while Hoover had 65 plays for 315 total yards. Vestavia Hills QB Brett Jones completed 11-of-16 passing for 146 yards along with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. "I thought we needed to come out and play physical and I believe we did that," said Rebels QB Jones. "The offensive line did a great job of blocking for me and Remington made a great play on the ball and that was such a big play in the game."

The workhorse in the game for the Rebels was Thomas Minor. Minor had 89 yards on 27 carries and the big touchdown late in the game.

Up next for these two teams, Hoover will host Hewitt-Trussville while Vestavia Hills travel to Tuscaloosa County.